HOME

WORKSHOPS

BIO

LIGHTING TIPS

MODEL INFO

HOW TO HOST A WORKSHOP

CONTACT

 

 

To book your room, please sign up for the workshop and then contact Loren at
602-324-7510

 

 

 

 

Recent Student Work

From Harley:

 

"The lighting workshop was invaluable!  As the expression goes: you don't know what you don't know.  I've always felt good about my composition skills and ability to capture images but lighting was completely foreign.  Since attending the workshop in January I have seen a hundredfold improvement in my images.  I am amazed by the results from inexpensive lighting equipment: vivitar flashes and home depot worklights can get some amazing results!  I'll step up to pro lighting soon but what I learned about bouncing light, v-cards, light placement (especially the value of a hair light,) and some photoshop techniques has really sent my photography to a new level.  If you have a chance to learn from Don DON'T MISS IT! "

Thanks for the kind words Harley! - Don

Terry, a recent workshop attendee:
"Thank you so much for the Workshop last Saturday. I have never had so much fun nor have I learned so much in one single day!! You have really opened my eyes now, and my desire, to what I can do with photography going forward. Let me know if you have more workshops coming up in the future."

Hi Don,
This is Suzanne of Las Vegas. I would like to thank you for the VERY INFORMATIVE WORKSHOP you conducted. You're awesome. This is the best $299 I've ever spent. You shared your knowledge and expertise wholeheartedly and your enthusiasm is very inspiring. You just made photography sound so simple during lectures rather than getting into the "technical jargon" that other photo expert wannabee's love to throw at their students. The GOODIES are by itself worth more than $299. I spent 3 days straight trying out the frames and actions on it, with barely  a sleep because of my excitement. I thought everything stops there until I got the Lighting DVD you sent to me.You had certainly boost my confidence and would be keeping in touch.

This 2 Disc episode of The Killer Series shows you how to make Model Composites a profitable part of your photography. Watch as Don teaches you how to pose an inexperienced model, how to easily create beautiful light inside the studio or on location. Watch Scott's "Step by Step" Photoshop movies and learn how to produce dramatic image enhancements. Load and use the same Actions that Don & Scott use to create great looking images for the models' composite card or portfolio.

Click here for more information.

Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco), Mexico
Workshop: September 20, 21

(Optional Day shoot on September 22,
Welcome dinner on Friday, September 19)

(Las Palmas Resort)

This will be a terrific workshop experience. We work on techniques from studio to location with the focus on shooting people in environments. We have models that are with us for the entire workshop. Last Mexico workshop found shoots going at dawn and up until midnight. There is ample time for sharing images, working on Photoshop and more. Our meeting times are amazingly productive and we also have a ton of fun. We have a villa on the ocean for shooting. Cabana, jacuzzi, beach and more. And we take advantage of the colorful town of Puerto Penasco for an afternoon of shooting on location. All I can say is - be prepared for an amazing, totally immersed weekend of shooting, processing, sharing and learning.

Models confirmed for the Mexico Workshop:

Christina	Nicole	Kassi	Briana
	Taylor

Movie by Jesse of Day One, Mexico Workshop in April. Another video is forthcoming on Day two.

Just to get you excited:
Models riding horses on the beach
Shooting Jet Skis with Models
Private Villa for shooting
Town shoot with the incredible locations and people of Puerto Penasco
Photoshop work area
and more...

Here's Jesse's video of day two of the workshop.

Thanks Jim for this great video! James can be reached here. These images are by James and were shot at the workshop.

Can you believe this!!!!
Beach, incredible surroundings, luxury at an amazingly affordable price. We are going south of the border to conduct a 3-day workshop on the beach and around the little town of Puerto Peñasco. Structured workshops and free shooting time provided.

SIGNUP FORM HERE

We would like to limit it to 10 participants for this workshop. The fee is $325 for the workshop and there are great prices for the rooms there as well.

Included: The workshop will include the Lighting Essentials DVD and Photoshop DVD as well as a Workbook. There will be plenty of time for personal shooting as well as team shooting with the models. The workshop will be broken into three parts.

Friday Evening:
a meetup at the resort: Welcome dinner by the pool. Portfolio sharing, a creative workshop with workflow for shooting discussed. In addition we will meet the models and each other and prepare for the next 2 days.

Saturday
Starts with basic lighting fundamentals part of the workshop. From headshots to group shots you will explore many ways to control light and use studio lights as well as small flash techniques that are amazing. After lunch we head to the villa for the balance of the day shooting in a private villa with cabana, beach and jacuzzi. Emphasis is on shooting with mixed light sources.

Private shooting time until sundown when we shoot against the setting sun on the beach.

Dinner is easily found on the Resort grounds.
After dinner discussion and image review from the day.
Location techniques discussed.

Sunday
(Morning private shoots at dawn)
Location with models in Puerto Penasco. We look at natural light and how to augment it. We will be all over the town so the possiblities for images is limitless. I will be working with each of you to develop location skills and lighting tricks to save you time and get the shots you want to get...everytime. Free shoot time and demonstrations for those interested. Back to beach for beach shoot and another sunset model shoot.

After dinner wrapup with a review and discussion on marketing and web design for photographers.

Optional Monday:
Dawn shoot with models and the location for those intrepid souls that want to arise at that magical time of day. This is an optional day and will be mostly for private shoots with models who are available. There is an additional $100 for Monday. This fee goes directly to the models for taking an extra day. I will need to know in advance how many are wanting to stay over for Monday. I will be shooting as well on that day. I will also be available for helping any shooters or teams that want me to help them.

The workshop will take place at Las Palmas Beachfront Resort which is located on Sandy Beach. Each participants needs to contact the resort directly to rent a private condo at rates below. Your rental also covers the cost of us using one of the resort's exclusive beachfront homes for the entire 3-day workshop.

We will be shooting on the beach and around the resort. We will venture into town, visit a private beach home for shooting, and try some remote location in the old town district. Naturally we'll be bringing down some models from Phoenix. The workshop will also include peer shooting reviews each evening at the beachfront home.

Accommodations:

Las Palmas has spacious 1 and 2 bedroom condos located just behind the home
we have reserved. Participants are welcome to bring their families to the resort. Condos come with full-size kitchens and you can bring all your drinks and meals with you.

To book your room, please sign up for the workshop and then contact Loren at
602-324-7510

Please note that all participants must make their own transportation arrangements.
You should plan on getting Mexican car insurance for approximately $15/day.

NOTE:
There was some concern about the gear and taking it Mexico. I checked with Loren, my contact at the resort and this is his unedited reply to me:

"Don

Coming back from Peñasco, no one to my knowledge has ever been stopped, let alone searched on the Mex side of the border. You don’t even stop, or get out or roll down the window. Once you cross to the US, you are asked some basic info and they on occasion inspect the cars. Its rare and there’s no restrictions on camera gear.

Now, within Mexico there is occasionally a check-point where the Federalies are looking for drugs/guns and who knows what else. Its very rare and I have never heard of one instance where camera equipment, or any legal items where confiscated. I’m sure there is the rogue bad cop down there who enlists a bribe but its not the norm. When they do inspect, it’s a little intimidating because they walk around with some serious weapons (perhaps a photo-op with cute models), but I am very confident that participants will not have a problem. In the 3 years of me going down 2 times a month, I have never once been stopped.

For those who are cautious, my advice is to travel in a convoy. If/when one car stops (or is stopped by the Fed’s), everyone stops.

Loren"

I have not heard of any problems at that border crossing, but Loren has promised to do some double checking so we should be good. Make sure you do not bring weapons or drugs into Mexico.

Currently all adults traveling to Mexico by car are required to have a birth certificate and valid ID or a passport. I would strongly advise checking to see what the current requirments are. I believe you may have to have a passport.

To book your room, please sign up for the workshop and then contact Loren at
602-324-7510 or Email

All information is copyright Don Giannatti. Please be nice or I will be angry and then I say and do things that aren't nice. Ya know